The Crossfire Debate
Barnes & Cooper: Inside the Practice Pen
•
3m 28s
In this candid discussion, Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper tackle one of team roping’s most talked-about topics—the crossfire rule. From how it’s judged to how much the sport has evolved, they share honest thoughts on what they see happening in today’s arena.
Jake and Clay reflect on watching modern runs and how the rule seems to have shifted compared to the days when steers had to “hit and jump forward.” They point out how many runs now look like crossfires in slow motion, even when they appear clean in real time. Clay discusses his own experience, recalling times they’ve been flagged out—and others when they’ve seen inconsistent calls.
They also talk about the record-setting runs, the ever-rising standard of competition, and why having replay for judges could make a big difference in fairness and accuracy.
Part of the Barnes & Cooper: Inside the Practice Pen series, this episode offers two legends’ perspective on how the sport has changed, what consistency in judging means for ropers, and why they still love pushing the limits of the game.
Up Next in Barnes & Cooper: Inside the Practice Pen
-
Jake Barnes on Horsepower, Hard Work,...
In this conversation, Jake Barnes shares his honest take on investing in good horses and building a career through consistency, not risk. He explains why every successful roper credits their horse, how he’s always taken a conservative approach to buying and training, and what it means to make the...
-
Clay O’Brien Cooper on Watching Today...
In this conversation, Clay O’Brien Cooper shares how he still keeps up with today’s team roping scene—watching the winter rodeos, studying runs, and following which teams are gaining momentum through the season.
Clay explains why he enjoys watching how the rodeos shape up, evaluating cattle, an...
-
Practicing for Your Horse & Neck Catches
Hall of Fame ropers Jake Barnes and Clay Cooper break down why practice should focus on your horse first and how to rope slow cattle and muley steers to build confidence and control.
They cover:
- Practicing for your horse vs. practicing for yourself
- Why slow cattle keep horses relaxed and ...
